Arlene F. (Jacobs) Dodd, 92

September 05, 2025

Arlene F. (Jacobs) Dodd, 92, passed away September 5, 2025, at her home in Lancaster PA, under the loving care of her son and best bud, Steve, and surrounded by all her children.

Born May 25, 1933, in Willard, Ohio, she was the youngest of seven children born to Arnold K. and Florence (Wiles) Jacobs.

Arlene began her career at C&P Telephone company as a TSPS Operator, a position she held in Wheeling, WV then Parkersburg, WV until her retirement at age 65, from Bell Atlantic. She has lived in Lancaster for 25 years enjoying her large family and amazing neighbors.

Arlene was well-known for her beautiful and delicious sugar cookies, crewel embroidery, mending and sewing everything from doll clothes to Halloween costumes and bridesmaid dresses. She loved her flower garden, jigsaw puzzles, WVU basketball and Wheel of Fortune. She was fiercely competitive in Scrabble, croquet, Yahtzee, and the card game Rummy. Her daughters suspect she may have lived longer had she not won her last match against each of them.

Left to mourn her loss are Arlene’s children: Marilyn Irwin, of Jessup MD, Michael (Lisa Delbrugge) Dodd of Pittsburgh, PA, Stephen Dodd (companion of Maggi Freed) of Lancaster PA, William Dodd (Nancy Sigman) of San Antonio, TX and Margaret (Gregory) Strausser of Lancaster, PA.

Also surviving Arlene are her treasured ten grandchildren: Megan (Matt), Matt (fiancée Carol), Justin (Renna), Zachary (Kayla), Ashley (David), Chad, Kayla, Olivia (Adrian), Justine (Jeremy), and Stephen. Also 27 great-grandchildren who call her “Great” (and they’re not wrong), and a great-great grandchild due in January 2026. Arlene also leaves behind a brother, Edwin Jacobs and a sister Janet Simpson, and several special nieces and nephews whom she adored.

Arlene was preceded in death by her infant son, Forest Donald Dodd II (Woody), her parents, sisters Carolyn Vanderpool and Joan Willoughby, brothers Arnold Jacobs Jr and Roger Jacobs, and son-in-law Frank Irwin.

Family and friends will be received from 5-7PM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Funeral services will take place on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Willard, OH at 11AM. Final resting place in Greenwood Cemetery, Willard, OH.